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C08B37/00—Preparation of polysaccharides not provided for in groups C08B1/00 - C08B35/00; Derivatives thereof

C08B37/006—Heteroglycans, i.e. polysaccharides having more than one sugar residue in the main chain in either alternating or less regular sequence; Gellans; Succinoglycans; Arabinogalactans; Tragacanth or gum tragacanth or traganth from Astragalus; Gum Karaya from Sterculia urens; Gum Ghatti from Anogeissus latifolia; Derivatives thereof

Abstract

The compounds device from heparin from which the -SO₃-groups of the amino sugar have been removed and replaced with acetyl. Subsequently the -SO₃-groups of iduronic acid were removed by controlled formation of epoxide

and by stereo-selective splitting, with inversion of C₂-C₃ positions under mild and/or catalyst controlled conditions.

They are used in the treatment of cardiovascular disorders and in particular in the syndromes of disseminated vascular thromboses.

Description

[0001]

The present invention relates to polysaccharides obtained from heparin, to pharmaceutical compositions containing them, to the process for their preparation and use in the treatment of cardiovascular disorders and in particular in the syndromes of disseminated vascular thromboses.

[0002]

The products of the invention on the whole show thrombolytic activity as they stimulate the release of plasminogen activators and enhance the activity of the latter. They inhibit glycosidases and in particular platelet glucosidase, the enzyme responsible for the degradation of the endogenous heparan sulphate of the cell surface. They interact with laminine, fibronectins and vitreonectin, by modifying their conformations. They inhibit heparinase, as false substrate of it, inhibit proliferation of arterial smooth muscle cells, inhibit experimental atherosclerosis in the animal and reduce lipid synthesis in cultures of intima aorta cells.

[0003]

The compounds of the invention enhance the therapeutical activity peculiar to natural polysaccharides as, in vivo, preserve for a longer time the polysaccharide structure while inhibiting the glucosidases responsible for the degradation of heparin-like drugs. The compounds of this invention were discovered during stability studies on pharmaceutical products consisting of polysaccharides alkali-treated with sodium hydroxide for removing agents causing bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). The heparin polysaccharides on the market, like for instance N-acetyl-heparamine, otherwise called heparan sulphate, when treated with sodium hydroxide, especially if protracted, even at room temperature generated products having a greatly modified specific rotation. The activity of the final product of this process was surprisingly higher than that of the intermediate product.

[0004]

The compounds of the present invention derive from heparin from which, following a selective controlled reaction, the -SO₃⁻ groups of the amino sugar have been removed and replaced with acetyl. Subsequently the -SO₃⁻ groups of iduronic acid were removed from heparin by controlled formation of epoxide

and by stereo-selective splitting, with inversion of C₂-C₃ positions under mild and/or catalyst-controlled conditions.

[0005]

The compounds of the present invention may be represented by the following formula (I):

III ranging from 40% to 60%, preferably 50%, of the uronic acids. 15-25% of the remaining part is glucuronic acid and no less than 20% iduronic acid.

[0006]

The compounds of the present invention have an average molecular mass varying from 18,000 to 2,000 daltons, preferably within the 18,000-10,000, 8,000-4,000 and 3,000-2,000 Dalton intervals; they have an [α]²⁰D specific rotation ranging from +10° to +40° and an SO₃⁻/COO⁻ ratio ranging from 0.8 to 1.70.

Background of the invention

[0007]

Derivatives, such as amides or esters, obtained from heparin by removing the sulphate groups from their positions and replacing them with acylic residues of various kinds are known.

[0008]

Under particular conditions, inversions of the uronic acid configurations in heparin have been reported to be possible.

[0009]

The European Patent Application EP 0413248 describes a process by which a re-N-acetylated compound obtained from heparin by either full or partial N-desulphation is synthetized. This process is based on potentiometric titration, with sodium hydroxide, of the free amino-group and then, on acylation with the equivalent amount of acetic anhydride only. The obtained product is claimed to be similar to heparan sulphate. The latter, however, has a different primary structure since contains mainly glucuronic acid instead of iduronic acid-2-0-sulphate and has a sulphation degree represented by an SO₃⁻/COO⁻ ratio ≦ 1.25 (J.T. Gallagher, A. Walker, Biochem. J. 230, 665,1985; U. Lindahl, L. Kjellen, Thromb. Haemost. 66, (1) 44, 1991; PCT/EP 88/00967 application). The aforesaid process is based upon a controlled hydrolysis of heparin with N-desulphation and without depolymerization, followed by acylic group positioning onto specific site. These successive reactions, according to the above-mentioned application, are claimed to represent a progress compared to the hydrolysis reactions by Inoue Y. and Nagasawa K. (Carbohydr. Res. 46, 87-95, 1976) or to the acid hydrolysis reaction carried out up to 25%, as reported in EP 0165569, or to the hydrolysis and subsequent succinylations described in the Patent CH 661439A5.

[0010]

Unlike the processes described in the above patent references, a process of selective N-desulphation can take place, according to EP 0413248, if, as starting product, Heparin calcium salt is used, since, thanks to the counter-ion size, even in water a selective N-desulphation can occur without any alterations, such as yellow dyeing and O-desulphation of the product. As claimed in this reference, it is impossible to obtain good-quality N-desulphated heparin from sodium heparin. Moreover, the aforesaid reference EP0413248, by potentiometric titration with sodium hydroxide underestimates the contents of the obtained N-desulphated heparin and, as a consequence, the subsequent acetylation results incomplete. The determination of the free amine by potentiometric titration is not accurate on account of an inter- and intra-molecular salification between the -SO₃⁻ and -NH₂ groups. As a matter of fact, a 9% amount of free amine (Glc NH2 at 93.5 ppm) remains in the finished product as results from the ¹³C.NMR reported in Figure 1 of EP 0413248.

[0011]

The Canadian Patent Application no. 2007616 describes heparin derivatives endowed with inhibitory activity on the formation of renal calcoli, used in nephrolithiasis therapy. Such heparin derivatives are obtained by treatment with alkali in presence of reducing agents and have an SO₃⁻/COO⁻ ratio comprised between 1.20 and 1.70.

It has now been found that the selective N-desulphation and the subsequent N-acetylation together with inversion of uronic acid configuration on heparin structure lead to products endowed with surprising and unexpected activity.

[0014]

The products of the present invention have the following biological activities: they inhibit α-glucosidase, which activity is interesting for therapeutic purposes against pre-diabetic conditions and/or simple obesity. In particular, the products of the invention inhibit the platelets endoglycosidase (Aldberg A. et al., Biochemistry 19, 5755, 1980). This enzyme is responsible for the degradation of the parietal endogenous heparan sulphate. The degradation of the parietal endogenous heparan sulphate is considered as one of the causes of atherosclerosis pathogenesis (H. Engelberg in "Heparin and prevention of atherosclerosis" Wiley-Liss, New York 1990, p 9). The products of the invention favour and enhance the activity of the heparin-like drugs, as inhibitors of heparinase and heparitinase, the enzymes degrading the said drugs. They interact with fibronectin and vitreonectin. They inhibit the proliferation of the smooth muscle cells and human leukocyte elastase.

[0015]

The compounds of the present invention can be obtained from heparin having a molecular mass comprised between 10,000 and 18,000 or heparin fractions having a 4,000-8,000 molecular mass or heparin fragments having a molecular mass comprised between 3,000-2,000 daltons, by means of:

controlled and selective N-desulphation;

selective N-acetylation on glucosamine;

controlled epoxidation between the U₂-U₃ carbons with elimination of the -OSO₃⁻ group of uronic acid and

splitting of the epoxide with inversion of configuration.

[0016]

The sequence of the reactions can even be modified, as the sequence of the reactions on the uronic acid can take place first and then those on the amino-sugar. Both the reactions of N-desulphation and U2-U3 epoxidation occur according to a 1st order kinetics and therefore can be controlled at will. The stereo-specific splitting of the epoxide takes place by heating in slightly alkaline or preferably neutral medium.

[0017]

The N-desulphation reaction, according to the invention, occurs in aqueous medium at a temperature ranging from 40° to 100°C, preferably at 60°C. The reaction occurs at acid pH ranging from 0.1 to 1, preferably 0.1. The acidifying agent is a mineral acid like, for instance, hydrochloric acid.

[0018]

The N-desulphate intermediate can be isolated according to conventional methods. According to an invention method, the mixture of the acid reaction is neutralized with alkali or alkaline-earth metals hydroxides and the intermediate is precipitated with a proper solvent such as methanol. The solid product is filtered and dried.

[0019]

Preferably, the N-desulphate intermediate is not isolated and the following N-acetylation can be directly performed in the reaction medium.

[0020]

The N-acetylation reaction is carried out by means of proper acylating agent, such as acetic anhydride. The reaction takes place in aqueous medium and at a pH ranging from 8 to 10. The alkalifying agent is chosen among those known in the art, such as for instance alkali metal hydroxides. The N-acetylated product is isolated following conventional procedures.

[0021]

The reaction of regio-selective O-desulphation, with epoxide formation, is carried out in aqueous medium at alkaline pH and a temperature from 35 to 60°C, preferably from 55° to 60°C, for a period lasting between 1 and 4 hours, depending on the desired O-desulphation degree. The subsequent splitting of the epoxide occurs in water at pH 7-8 and at boiling temperature.

[0022]

The sequence of 0-desulphation with inversion of configuration, i.e. the formation and the following splitting of the epoxide, can even be performed directly in slightly alkaline solution, for example an aqueous solution of an alkali metal carbonate or bicarbonate, at boiling temperature.

[0023]

The final product is isolated by conventional techniques, such as neutralization of the reaction mixture for example with a suitable organic or inorganic acid and precipitation with a water-miscible organic solvent, such as acetone, methanol or ethanol.

[0024]

The following examples further illustrate the invention.

[0025]

The present text adopts the following abbreviations: L-iduronic acid-2-sulphate = IdoA-SO₃; Glucosamine N-sulphate = Glc N-SO₃; Glucosamine N-acetylated = Glc N-Ac; D-glucuronic acid = Glc A or G. When numbers are present in the formulae, like for instance -1, -2, -3, etc. they indicate the carbons in the positions 1, 2, 3, etc. of glucosamine; U-1, U-2, etc. are the carbon atoms in the positions 1, 2 of the uronic acids. For example I-1S indicates the anomeric carbon of L-iduronic acid-2-sulphate, etc.

[0026]

The potentiometric determinations of sulphur, uronic acids and SO₃⁻/COO⁻ were performed in aqueous solution, according to Mascellani G. et al. (Il Farmaco Ed. Pr. 43, 165-175, 1988). The ¹³C.NMR spectra were performed with 10-15% D₂O solution on Bruker Ac 300 spectrometer with 5 mm dual probe operating at 75.47 MHz. The chemical shifts were recorded versus the internal standard of methanol at 51.75 ppm versus the external standard TMS according to Casu B. et al. (Biochem. J. 197, 599-609, 1981). The ratio between the signal integrals for calculating functional groups was obtained according to Casu B. et al. (Arzneim. Forsch. 33, 135-142, 1983).

In a reaction vessel equipped with thermostatic bath, stirrer, dropper, thermometer probe and pH probe, the heparin batch 90327 (g 100) was loaded with 900 ml of water heated to 60°C. On completion of dissolution, at constant temperature of 60°C, 40 ml of concentrated HCl and water to 1000 ml were added. The reaction mass was stirred for 4 hours. In the meantime samplings of 30 ml at a time were performed (Tab.1). Soon after the samples were cooled, neutralized to pH 6 with 2 N NaOH, added to 1.6 g of sodium acetate, diluted to 80 ml with water and eventually, added to 160 ml of methanol. The precipitates formed in the samples were collected and dried up.

Table 1

hours

code

sampling volume

obtained g

1

OP753/1

30 ml

2.5

2

OP753/2

30 ml

2.3

3

OP753/3

30 ml

2.6

4

OP753/4

910 ml

86

[0029]

The residual final volume (910 ml) was diluted, added to 52 g of sodium acetate, adjusted to pH 6 with 2 N NaOH and treated with 5.6 liters of methanol. The precipitate was collected and dried. An amount of 86 g of N-desulphated heparin was obtained (global recovery: 93.4%). The isolated products (2 g each) were separately placed into flasks containing 20 ml of water and slowly treated over 0.5 hour with 0.2 ml of acetic anhydride dropping through a micropipette. pH 8 was maintained with N NaOH. At the end of the reaction, pH was adjusted to 5.5. Sodium acetate (g 6) was added and the volume of the solution adjusted to 100 ml with water. Methanol (200 ml) was added. The precipitates were collected. Their chemico-physical characteristics as well as their biological activity (APTT) are analyzed and reported in Table 2.

Heparin batch 90327 (9 g), water (86.4 ml) and HCl (3.6 ml) were loaded into a reaction vessel equipped with stirrer and thermostatic bath. The resulting pH was 0.58. The reaction mixture was maintained at 60°C.

[0031]

Samples of 30 ml were taken after 4, 5.5 and 7 hours and cooled to 20°C, adjusted to pH 8.5 and separately treated with 2.5 milliequivalents (meq) of acetic anhydride (0.24 ml), by means of a microburet, in 1 hour interval. On completion of the reaction the solutions are diluted to 150 ml and added to 300 ml of methanol. The precipitates were collected and separately dried. The samples OP743/1, OP743/2, OP743/3 were obtained. Their weights, N-desulphation percentage and APTT values are reported in Table 3.

The chemical kinetics values obtained in the examples 1 and 2 are summarized in Tab.4.

Table 4

Hydrolysis hours

SO₃⁻/COO⁻

N-desulphation %

Residual N-sulphation %

APTT U/mg

0.0

2.32

0.0

95

196

1.0

2.17

15.79

79.21

67

2.0

2.02

31.58

63.42

29

3.0

1.94

40.0

55.0

11.5

4.0

1.85

49.47

45.53

8.8

4.0

1.86

48.32

46.68

7.2

5.5

1.82

52.63

42.37

3.5

7.0

1.80

54.74

40.26

2.8

[0033]

Fig.1.A reports the curve of the residual percentage of -NH-SO₃⁻, N-desulphation and of APTT with time. The correlation between the logarithm of the residual -NH-SO₃⁻ and time is linear up to 50% removal of -SO₃⁻ (Fig. 1B). The removal, by controlled hydrolysis, of the -SO₃⁻ from the A-2 position of the aminosugar follows a 1st order kinetics. Under the set operating conditions the 50% presence of free amine results to enhance the stabilization of the residual sulphate group by slowing down its gradual hydrolysis. The sole anticoagulant activity (APTT) results virtually eliminated after the 50% removal of the SO₃⁻ groups.

Example 3N-desulphated and N-acetylated heparin

[0034]

Into a reaction vessel equipped with heating coat, stirrer, and two dripping funnels and pH-detecting electrode, heparin (105 g) and water (1 l) were conveyed. The reaction mass was heated to 60°C. 37% hydrochloric acid (42 ml) is added. After 4 hours' stirring and heating, the N-desulphation reaction was stopped by cooling the mass and adding 58 ml of 8N NaCl. At room temperature, pH was adjusted to 8.5 with 2N NaOH. Through a dripping funnel acetic anhydride (8.5 ml) was added to the reaction mass over a 0.5 hour interval. Under stirring, NaOH was simultaneously added to maintain reaction pH between 7.5 and 9.0.

[0035]

After 1 hour rest the solution was diluted to 3 liters and added to 150 g of sodium acetate and 12 liters of methanol.

[0036]

The white precipitate was collected by filtration, washed with acetone and dried. The resulting N-desulphated-N-acetylated heparin (95.7 g) has the following characteristics: [α]D²⁰= 49°, Sulphur 9.36%, uronic acids 31.3%, SO₃⁻/COO⁻=1.81. In the 13C.NMR spectrum the signal of the free amine at 93.4 ppm is absent and the following sulphate molar fractions: I-1S≈0.80; A₆-O-SO₃≈0.60; Glc-NSO₃≈0.45 (according to the calculation reported by Casu, Arzneim. Forsch. 33, 135-142, 1983) are derived.

The solution was heated to 36°C for 2.5 hours, cooled, treated with 20% acetic acid up to pH 5.5 and added to 300 ml of methanol. The precipitate was collected and dried. 4.54 g of product was obtained with the following characteristics [α]D²⁰= 56.4°, -SO₃⁻/COO⁻= 1.57. The 13C.NMR spectrum shows typical signals, different from those of N-acetylated heparin and in particular at the following δ values (expressed in p.p.m.): 104.2 (U₁); 101 (U₁S); 99 (A₁S); 97.3; 96.5; 96.1; 78.8; 78.1; 75; 72; 71.4; 68.1; 62; 60; 55.5; 53.8; 52.6.

[0040]

A 5% solution of the obtained product (2 g) was prepared in sterile pyrogen-free water, filtered through sterilizing 0.22 µm filter and poured into vials under aseptic conditions. The vials were autoclaved at 135°C for 30', (EEC Directive III/3298. 1991) for removing the BSE causing agent. A product was obtained having [α]D²⁰= +42°, -SO₃⁻/COO⁻ = 1.57 (by potentiometry).

[0041]

The fibrinolytic activity of the product was 30% higher than that of the OP 799c product.

N-acetyl heparin (4 g), obtained from Heparin batch 11435, as described in the example 1, and containing 36.58% of N-acetyl, was solubilized in 200 ml of 2% Na₂CO₃ solution and refluxed for 3 hours (103°C). After cooling, pH was adjusted to 5.5 with acetic acid under vacuum-stirring until effervescence was over. 15 g of sodium acetate and 2.2 volumes of methanol were added. The resulting precipitate was collected by filtration and dried. The obtained OP HAI 821 (3.56 g) had the following characteristics: [α]D²⁰= +25°, Sulphur= 7.83%, uronic acids=30.20%, -SO₃⁻/COO⁻= 1.57. The 13C.NMR showed the signals peculiar to galacturonic acid at δ 102 (U-1), 70.5 (U-2). In addition, from the integrals the following ratios were calculated:

where A₂-NSO₃⁻ means the carbon in the position 2 of glucosamine N-sulphate (Glc NSO₃), A₂-NAC the carbon in the position 2 of glucosamine N-acetylated (GlNAc), A₆ the carbon in the position 6 of the glucosamine 6-sulphate or unsulphate (A₆-OH), U₁ the anomeric carbon of the iduronic acid sulphated in the position 2 (-OSO₃) or unsulphated (-OH).

Example 7Galacturonyl-heparin HI 822

[0043]

A preparation similar to that described in the example 6, except that the alkaline solution containing heparin had refluxed for 20 hours instead of 3 hours (at 103°C). The resulting product (3.13 g; yield 78.25%) had [α]D²⁰= +10.1°, Sulphur= 7.35%, uronic acids=29.67%, -SO₃⁻/COO⁻= 1.50. From the integrals of the 13C.NMR signals the following ratios were obtained:

5 g of Heparin N-desulphated and re-acetylated according to the example 2, and having N-acetylation fraction = 0.68, -SO₃⁻/COO⁻= 1.65, [α]D²⁰= 51°, was 5% solubilized in 0.9 M NaOH. It was heated to 60°C for 2.5 hours and then cooled. Its pH was neutralized with HCl. The resulting solution had: [α]D²⁰= +82°. After a 2.5 hour reflux in water, the solution was cooled and treated with 500 ml of methanol. The formed precipitate was collected and dried. The obtained N-desulphated-N-acetylated heparin (4 g - yield: 82%) contains galacturonic acid. The product has the following characteristics: [α]D20 = +21°, SO₃⁻/COO⁻ =1.19, sulphur 5.65%, uronic acids 28.8%, molecular mass 11,300. The 13C-NMR is reported in Fig. 2.

7 g of Heparin (batch 90327) was dissolved in 50 ml of water pre-heated to 60°C. Once temperature had stabilized, 6N NaOH was added up to 0.6 N in an overall volume of 70 ml. The solution was maintained at 60°C. At intervals, 5 ml samples were taken, added to 2.5 of HCl and adjusted to pH 6 and to 10 ml volume with water. The resulting solutions were analyzed by Perkin Elmer polarymeter model 241 at the wavelenghts of the Sodium D band (589 nm), at 578 nm (Hg), 546 (Hg), 436 (Hg) and 365 nm (Hg). The relevant values are reported in Tab. 5 and Fig. 3.

[0053]

At all the considered wavelenghts a practically right line appears until about 105 minutes of reaction. Afterwards, slight variations in [α] with time were recorded. The reaction resulted inhibited after 2 hours. Fig. 3A.

[0054]

The upward pent of the curve of the sodium D band at 589 nm (Fig. 3B) corresponds to a polynomial equation of the second order, like: y = a + bx +cx²

with R² -0.999.

[0055]

Being the epoxide concentration proportional to (α∞ - αo) and the residual heparin concentration at any time proportional to (α∞ - αt), where α∞ = specific rotation at the end of the reaction, αt= specific rotation at the t time, αo= specific rotation at the 0 time (heparin specific rotation), for instance at the wavelength 589 of sodium, by plotting log(α∞ - αt) versus the times, a linear function was obtained (Fig. 4). It was apparently a first order reaction.

[0056]

The fractions sampled after 30', 75', 135' and 315' were diluted to 20 ml, added to sodium acetate up to 20%, adjusted to pH 5.4 and precipitated with 2 volumes of methanol. The collected and dried precipitate supplied the SO₃⁻/COO⁻ values reported in Table 6.

Table 6

Time minutes

SO₃⁻/COO⁻

I-₁S* % residue

2-O-desulphation %

0

2.32

86.5

13.5

30'

2.11

65.5

34.5

75'

1.91

45.5

54.5

135'

1.8

34.5

65.5

315'

1.66

20.5

79.5

Notes
* The residual percentage of the SO₃⁻ group in U-2 of the iduronic acid-2-sulphate was calculated by integrating the 13C.NMR I-1S signals (according to Casu B. et al., Arzneim.Forsch. 33, 135-142, 1983), having considered as 100 the sum of the integrals relevant to U-1 of the iduronic acid-2-sulphate and of glucuronic acid. The curve resulting from plotting on a semilogarithmic diagram the log[I-1S residue] values is a linear function till at least 75 minutes of reaction (Fig. 5). The 0-desulphation reaction was iduronic acid-selective and follows an apparently first order kinetics. The 13C.NMR spectrum of the product isolated after 315' is consistent with the structure containing epoxide. It shows that the molar fractions A₂N-SO₃ and A₆OSO₃ are respectively equal to 0.90 and 0.6, just like the parent heparin. By plotting the 2-O-desulphation percentage with the variation in [α]D²⁰ the correlation reported in Table 7 and in Figure 6 is obtained.

10 g of Ep 90327 was added to 100 ml of 1N NaOH in a suitable reaction vessel and heated to 60°C for 3.5 hours under stirring. On completion of the reaction the solution was neutralized with N HCl to pH 5.4. By adding 2.2 volumes of methanol a product was obtained which, after drying, gave 7.42 g (74.2% yield) of epoxide OP 778/2 having the following characteristics: sulphur 7.3%, uronic acids:28.9%, -SO₃⁻/COO⁻= 1.53. The 13C-NMR spectrum (fig.7) shows the signals (in ppm) at the following δ values: 104.2 (G-1.I-1); 101.3(I-1SO₃); 98(A-1); 97(U-1); 79.5(A-4); 78.3(U-5); 72 (U-4. A-3. A-5); 68.2(A-6); 60(A-2); 53.5(U-3); 52.6(U-2).

[0059]

From the signal integrals the following values of molar fractions resulted: (G-1 + I-1)≈0.31; I-1S=0.10; U-1≈0.57;

from which the summation of sulphate groups per disaccharide was derived: Σ SO₃ = 1.64.

Example 15N-acetylheparin epoxidation and inversion

[0060]

N-acetyl heparin OP799C (20 g) was dissolved as quickly as possible in 200 ml of 2 N sodium hydroxide at 6°C, 26°C and 36°C and immediately diluted to 5% with water at the same temperature. Sodium hydroxide was then 1N. The solutions, in sealed containers, were placed in thermostats at the indicated temperatures. Samplings from each solution were made after 30, 60, 150 and 300 minutes. The samples were neutralized with 20% acetic acid and diluted to 2.5%. Specific rotations were recorded. The [α]D²⁰ values are reported in Table 8.

Table 8

[α]D²⁰

Hours

6°C

26°C

36°C

0.00

48.5°

48.5°

48.5°

0.50

49.4°

49.2°

52.0°

1.00

50.4°

51.0°

53.4°

2.50

49.8°

52.9°

56.4°

5.00

50.4°

54.3°

63.2°

and in the figures 8A and 8B. From the latter, the logarithm of the epoxidation rate of N-acetyl-heparin results to be proportional to its temperature. The samples treated at 36°C for 2.5 and 5 hours were poured into vials to be sealed and autoclaved at 121°C for 1 hour. The products were then isolated as described in the example 5. Samples of N-acetyl-galacturonyl heparin, coded OP 2,5 and OP 5, respectively having: [α]D²⁰ =39.1° and 35.9°, SO₃⁻/COO⁻ =1.54 and 1.42, were obtained.

Example 16Biological activity

[0061]

1. The activity of the compounds was evaluated in vitro as inhibitory effect on the inactivation of high-affinity heparin (HA-Ep) by platelet endoglycosidase according to Olderg et al. (Biochemistry 19, 25, 5762-68, 1980).

Table 9

Inactivation of thrombin by antithrombin III, in presence of HA-heparin treated with platelet endoglycosidase in presence of the compounds of the invention acting as endoglycosidase inhibitors

4. The inhibition of heparinase was assessed on the basis of the inhibitory power of the compounds of the invention on the heparin enzymatic degradation by heparinase I, II and III.
The experiment was carried out under the experimental conditions described by Volpi N., Mascellani G. and Bianchini P. (Anal. Biochem., 200, 100, 1992). Heparin was incubated with heparinase I (EC 4.2.2.7), heparinase II (Sigma, no assigned EC number) and heparinase III (EC 4.2.2.8) with and without the compound of this invention. The results are reported in Table 12. Heparin was completely degraded by heparinases. The compound HI822 (Example 7) was attacked by the enzymes by 7.65% only. HI822, when added to heparin, inhibited the heparinases action up to 74.5-87.4%.

The compounds of the invention can be administered in doses to be fixed by the clinician.
The compounds of the invention are administered in pharmaceutical formulations containing said compounds as active principles, alone or possibly in association with other active principles having similar or complementary activity.
The formulations of the invention are prepared according to well-known methods, like those described in the "Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences Handbook", Mack Pub.Co. USA.
The said pharmaceutical formulations are suitable for enteral, parenteral and topical administration.
Examples of parenteral pharmaceutical formulations are injectable sterile solutions or suspensions.
Examples of oral formulations are capsules, tablets, syrups, drinkable solutions or suspensions.
Examples of enteral formulations are suppositories.
Examples of topical formulations are salves, ointments, prolonged release forms.

Heparin derivatives according to the claim 1, in which 40-60% of uronic acids consist of galacturonic acid III, 15-25% of glucuronic acid and the remainder of iduronic acid (II).

Heparin derivatives according to the claims 1 to 2, having an SO₃⁻/COO⁻ ratio comprised between 0.8 and 1.7.

Heparin derivatives according to claims 1 to 3, having average molecular masses ranging from 18,000 to 2,000 daltons.

Heparin derivatives according to claims 1 to 4, having a specific rotation comprised between +10° and +40°.

A process for the preparation of the derivatives of claims 1 to 5, which process involves the following steps:

- -N-desulphation of heparin, fractions and fragments thereof;

- N-acetylation of glucosamine residues;

- -O-desulphation of the position 2 of the uronic acid by epoxidation;

- splitting of the epoxide with inversion of the configuration of the carbons U₂-U₃ of the uronic acid.

A process for the preparation of the products according to the claims 1-5, which process involves the following steps:

- regioselective 0-desulphation by epoxidation;

- splitting of the epoxide with inversion of the U2-U3 carbons configuration;

- N-desulphation;

- N-acetylation.

A process according to the claims 6 or 7, wherein the N-desulphation is carried out in acid aqueous medium at a pH ranging from 0.1 to 1 and at temperatures ranging from 40°C to 100°C.

A process according to the claims 6-8, wherein the acetylation is performed with acetic anhydride in aqueous medium at pH ranging from 8 to 10.

A process according to the claims 6-9, wherein the epoxidation is performed in 0.1 to 1 N solution of alkaline hydroxide at a temperature comprised between 35° and 60°C.

A process according to the claims 6 or 7, wherein the splitting of the epoxide with inversion of configuration is achieved in slightly alkaline or, better, neutral medium of distilled water at boiling temperature and for times ranging from 1 and 4 hours.

A process according to the claims 6 or 7, wherein the epoxide formation and its splitting, with the inversion of its configuration, can be directly performed in a slightly alkaline solution of either sodium or potassium carbonate or bicarbonate, at boiling temperatures.

Pharmaceutical formulations containing, as active principle, an heparin derivative of the claims 1-5.

Use of the compounds of claims 1 to 5 for the preparation of a medicament inhibiting glycosidases and heparinase, having fibrinolytic, antiinflammatory and antiatherosclerotic activities.